Bolivia tours & travel

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Bold and brash, Bolivia lifts travellers to its dizzying heights with stunning scenery, legendary landmarks and a rich, indigenous heritage.

Bolivia is an energetic, enigmatic piece of South American sorcery – alive with passion, awash with colour, connected to the past but living very much in the present. Soak in thermal baths surrounded by erupting geysers and desert; marvel at ruins on Lake Titicaca’s Island of the Sun (the mythical birthplace of Inca civilization); saddle up and tour Old Sucre’s monastic buildings and, of course, check out the mega salt-lick of the Salar de Uyuni – it’s like being on a snowfield…but with flamingos!

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Best time to visit Bolivia

Best time to visit Bolivia

Bolivia is a highly stratified nation where lifestyle and wealth vary greatly with geography. Cities tend to be wealthy and enjoy modern luxuries like art, theatre and international cuisine. Conversely, life in the rural highlands is tough. Many live without running water, heat and electricity. The highland population is almost entirely indigenous (the Quechua and the Aymara are the two largest groups) and most earn a living through farming.

What unifies many Bolivians is a love of family, soccer and religion. About 80% are Catholic, and practice with a mixture of indigenous customs and beliefs. This is how a place like the Witches Market, which sells tokens and trinkets meant to appease the Aymara gods, can coexist right next to the historic Church of San Francisco in La Paz. In fact, the church itself features carvings of masked figures, snakes, dragons and other indigenous symbols.

Regardless of wealth or socioeconomic status, Bolivians are taught to be well-mannered and to respect their elders. Visitors should remember to mind their p’s and q’s – say ‘por favor’ (please), ‘gracias’ (thank you) and remember to call anyone older than you ‘senor’ or ‘senora’. Just don’t expect a local to be punctual for an appointment – the nation as a whole is almost always fashionably late.

Culture and customs

Culture and customs

Bolivia is a highly stratified nation where lifestyle and wealth vary greatly with geography. Cities tend to be wealthy and enjoy modern luxuries like art, theatre and international cuisine. Conversely, life in the rural highlands is tough. Many live without running water, heat and electricity. The highland population is almost entirely indigenous (the Quechua and the Aymara are the two largest groups) and most earn a living through farming.

What unifies many Bolivians is a love of family, soccer and religion. About 80% are Catholic, and practice with a mixture of indigenous customs and beliefs. This is how a place like the Witches Market, which sells tokens and trinkets meant to appease the Aymara gods, can coexist right next to the historic Church of San Francisco in La Paz. In fact, the church itself features carvings of masked figures, snakes, dragons and other indigenous symbols.

Regardless of wealth or socioeconomic status, Bolivians are taught to be well-mannered and to respect their elders. Visitors should remember to mind their p’s and q’s – say ‘por favor’ (please), ‘gracias’ (thank you) and remember to call anyone older than you ‘senor’ or ‘senora’. Just don’t expect a local to be punctual for an appointment – the nation as a whole is almost always fashionably late.

Things to try in Bolivia

1. Saltenas

These baked hand-held pies are filled with meat, vegetables, eggs and olives. A popular breakfast choice, you’ll see vendors selling them on almost every corner in the morning. For a midday snack, opt for a tucumanas instead, which is similar to a saltenas but deep-fried instead of baked.

2. Sandwich de chola

This sandwich stuffed with roast pork, pickled vegetables and salsa is a food stall favourite in La Paz. Wash it down with a refreshing beer for the perfect cheap meal.

3. Anticuchos

Skewers of grilled cow heart, lathered in spicy peanut sauce and accompanied by a potato is the late-night snack of choice for most Bolivians.

4. Tea

Tea made from coca leaves (mate de coca) is a popular drink that doubles as an antidote to altitude sickness. Bolivians also drink a lot of trimate tea, a fragrant combination of chamomile, coca and anise

Geography and environment

Geography and environment

This landlocked South American nation shares its border with Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile and Peru. The Andes Mountain range, containing dormant volcanoes and snow-capped peaks, occupy the western half of the country. A wide range of landscapes can be found within the high plains of these mountains, where flamingos, llamas and vicunas wander deserts dotted with lakes.

Dried up ancient lakes have produced several salt flats – including Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt flat in the world, containing 10 billion tonnes of salt. Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable body of water, is located at the border with Peru, and the country’s largest city, La Paz, is nestled here 3,500 m above sea level. Mountains give way to rolling hills, narrow valleys and numerous rivers in the east. Fertile, semitropical valleys characterise the north-east, whereas semi-arid plains cover the southern region.

Shopping

Shopping

Traditional handicrafts are the primary goods on offer in Bolivia. Weavers from Sucre produce quality textiles in red and black designs. Artisans in Cochabamba are known for producing ceramics, whereas the lowlands around Santa Cruz, Trinidad and the Amazon Basin excel at crafts in tropical woods. Prices are generally cheaper at the point of original production, but in the absence of that, visit Calle Sagarnaga in La Paz for all your shopping needs. You’ll find thousands of stores here selling everything from alpaca sweaters to leather bags to good-luck charms. Or visit the Sunday market in Tarabuco – located about an hour outside of Sucre, it’s considered one of the best markets in Bolivia.

Keep in mind that bargaining is not part of the Bolivian culture, so prices are usually fixed, and most markets and vendors deal only with cash. When possible, try to carry small bills and coins as many vendors have difficulty making change for bills larger than BOB 10, especially in smaller towns.

Festivals and events

Festivals and events

Copacabana Festival de la Virgen de Candelaria
This normally sleepy town on Lake Titicaca celebrates its patron saint (also known as the Dark Virgin of the Lake) with a big and boisterous bash each February. Parades, colourful costumes, music, traditional Aymara dancing and a whole lot of drinking and celebrating are part of this three-day affair.

Tarabuco Pujllay Festival
Each March, Tarabuco hosts a two-day fiesta to celebrate Bolivia’s 1816 victory over the Spanish. Whether you choose to take in the parade of musicians and dancers in colourful traditional costumes, shop the town’s famous Sunday market, or take a swig from the shared chicha gourd – there’s a lot going on at this important annual event.

Fiesta del Gran Poder (Festival of Great Power)
Part act of religious devotion, part riotous party, this massive annual event is all Aymaran. Each May or June, thousands of dancers decked in elaborate embroidered costumes dance and drink their way through the city to commemorate El Senor del Gran Poder (also known as Jesus Christ).

Oruro Carnival
Take all of the spectacle of Brazil’s famous carnival, add the dizzying heights of the Altiplano plains, and you have Oruro’s Carnival – Bolivia’s biggest cultural event and the best carnival party in the country.

Health and safety

Health and safety

Intrepid takes the health and safety of its travellers seriously, and takes every measure to ensure that trips are safe, fun and enjoyable for everyone. We recommend that all travellers check with their government or national travel advisory organisation for the latest information before departure:

Bolivia travel FAQs

Visas are the responsibility of the individual traveller. Entry requirements can change at any time, so it's important that you check for the latest information. Please visit the relevant consular website of the country or countries you’re visiting for detailed and up-to-date visa information specific to your nationality. Check the Essential Trip Information section of the itinerary for more information.

Mobile phone coverage is generally good in Bolivia’s urban areas, but may not be available in more remote and mountainous areas. Ensure global roaming is activated with your service provider before leaving home.

Bolivia has a mix of both Western-style flushable toilets and squat toilets. In some cases you may be asked for a small fee to use public toilets, which is used to pay cleaners. It’s a good idea to carry your own toilet paper and hand sanitizer, as they are not always provided.

Drinking tap water isn’t recommended in Bolivia. Avoid drinks with ice and make sure to peel fruit before eating it. Help the environment and try to avoid buying bottled water. Instead, fill a reusable water bottle with filtered water. Ask your leader or the hotel where to find filtered water.

Credit cards are usually accepted by hotels, large retailers and tourist sites but are less commonly accepted by smaller vendors and family-run restaurants and market stalls. Always carry enough cash for smaller purchases in case credit cards are not an option.

ATMs are widely available in larger cities but are less common in small villages or rural areas. Make sure you have enough cash before leaving urban areas. ATMs are not accessible travelling through the Uyuni desert.

Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

Most people can start to feel the effects of altitude at over 2000 m (6561 ft) regardless of age, gender or fitness level. While our leaders have basic first aid training and are aware of the closest medical facilities, it is very important that you make yourself aware of the cause and effects of travelling at altitude, monitor your health and seek assistance accordingly. It’s important to take it easy, drink plenty of water and speak to your group leader at once if you feel unwell.

We recommend seeing your doctor if you have any health concerns before undertaking the trip. Particularly if you have a pre-existing medical condition or take any medication.

Bolivia requires proof of yellow fever vaccination if you are travelling from a country with risk of yellow fever. Many South and Central America countries pose a risk (including Argentina, Brazil and Colombia), so if you are planning on visiting other nearby nations, you may be required to get this vaccine. Please note that your home country may also require proof of yellow fever vaccination on return from Bolivia. Consult your nearest embassy for more information.

Visit your doctor or travel clinic for up-to-date advice and make sure to schedule your vaccination 4-6 weeks before your departure date, as some may require time to become effective. No other vaccines are required in order to enter Bolivia but some are recommended for protection against disease.

Discretion is advised for LGBTQI-travellers in Bolivia. Same-sex unions are illegal and homosexuality is not widely accepted, although an underground gay scene can be found in larger cities, particularly Santa Cruz and La Paz.

For more detailed and up-to-date advice, we recommend visiting Equaldex or ILGA before you travel.

Responsible Travel

Intrepid is committed to travelling in a way that is respectful of local people, their culture, local economies and the environment. It's important to remember that what may be acceptable behaviour, dress and language in your own country, may not be appropriate in another. Please keep this in mind while travelling.

Top responsible travel tips for Bolivia

Be considerate of Bolivia’s customs, traditions, religion and culture.

For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Instead, fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water.

Always dispose of litter thoughtfully, including cigarette butts.

When bargaining at markets, stay calm, be reasonable and keep a smile on your face. It's meant to be fun!

Learn some local language and don't be afraid to use it - simple greetings will help break the ice.